Graham James

Who is Graham James?

Graham Richard James is an English Anglican bishop. He is the current Bishop of Norwich.

James was born in Bideford, Devon, the son of the Reverend Lionel James and his wife Florence. He was educated at Northampton Grammar School, the University of Lancaster, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1972, the University of Oxford, where he received a diploma in theology in 1974 and Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford.

James was ordained deacon in 1975 and priest in 1976. He was assistant curate of Christ the Carpenter Church, Dogsthorpe from 1975 to 1978. From there he moved to Christ the King, Digswell from 1979 to 1983, became a member of the Advisory Council for the Church's Ministry in 1983 and held this post until 1987. Between 1983 and 1985, he was Selection Secretary and Secretary for Continuing Education and between 1985 and 1987 Senior Selection Secretary.

James was Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1987 to 1993 and was the Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro from 1993 to 1999. Since 1995, he has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and since 1999 the 71st Bishop of Norwich. In 2004, James was appointed to be a Lord Spiritual and to sit in the House of Lords. Since 2006, he is also a member of the Archbishops' Council and Chair of the Ministry Division, Church of England. He chairs the BBC's Standing Conference on Religion and Belief.